Painted Birdhouses

These painted birdhouses all share the same structural design, but as
you can see, by simply changing the paint color, you can make them
uniquely different.

Painted Birdhouses

I used water-based interior/exterior satin enamel house paint to
paint the outside of the birdhouses, while ensuring that all interior
surfaces remained all-natural western red cedar.

Each birdhouse can be built from a single 1x6 (3/4-inch x 5 1/2-inch)
cedar fence board that is at least 60" long.

To make the front panel, cut one piece of fence board 10 inches long.
From one end, find the middle of the board and make a mark on the top
edge. This will be the peak of the roof. To determine the two lower
points of the roof, measure down on each side, from the top, 2 3/4
inches and make a mark.

Using a straight-edge, connect the lower roof points on each side of
the board to the top center-mark and make the two cuts.

To determine the angles of each side, from the bottom end, measure in
1/2 inches from each side and make a mark. Connect the the bottom marks
to the two lower points of the roof and cut the slopes of both sides.
Use the front panel as a template for the back panel.

To determine the location of the entrance hole, measure up from the
bottom 6 1/2 inches. Drill the entrance hole with a 1 1/8-inch paddle
bit.

For the perch, cut a 1/4-inch wood dowel 2 inches long. Drill a 1/4
inch hole in the front panel 5 inches from the bottom. Apply a few drops
of wood glue to one end of the dowel and slide it into the 1/4-inch
hole.

Cut the remaining pieces (sides, bottom, and roof) and assemble them
together using galvanized finish nails, except the side cleanout door.
Attach the cleanout door using two screws (or nails) at the top,
throught the front and back. The screws will function as a hinge. Use
another screw at the base of the cleanout door to secure it to the base
until clean out time.

Painting the birdhouse is optional.

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